What happens when hospitality businesses keep saying “we support mental health” — but don’t back it up with action?

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Rachel Kerr-Lapsley, Managing Director of Kelly’s Cause, the mental health charity changing how the industry supports its people — from the ground up.

Rachel shares hard truths about performative wellbeing, what really makes a difference to staff, and why the most effective mental health support doesn’t have to cost the earth.

In this episode:

• What businesses get wrong about mental health “awareness”
• Why rota consistency matters more than a free yoga class
• The shocking gap between support offered vs actually used
• How better culture cut one hotel’s turnover from 85% to under 45%
• What employers can do this week to help their teams thrive
• Why fear of losing staff shouldn't stop you from training them
• How Kelly’s Cause partners with hospitality leaders to embed real change

Whether you’re running a kitchen or a multi-site group, this episode offers honest, actionable advice to create safer, healthier workplaces — without the fluff.

💡 “It’s not your job to educate people about mental health. It’s your job to create a workplace that respects it.” — Rachel Kerr-Lapsley

👉 Learn more or support their work at kellyscause.com

📩 Email: hello@kellyscause.com

📲 Follow on Instagram: @kellyscause

🔗 Talking Hospitality donation link: https://www.kellyscause.com/donate

Takeaways:

• It's crucial for employers to understand that mental health awareness has evolved significantly post-pandemic; employees today know more about mental health than ever before.
• Kelly's Cause is dedicated to providing tailored mental health support specifically for hospitality workers, founded in memory of a chef who tragically died by suicide.
• Employers should focus on practical tools and strategies to create a healthy workplace rather than merely raising awareness about mental health issues.
• Effective mental health support can save businesses money on recruitment and turnover by fostering a supportive and healthy work environment for employees.

Links referenced in this episode:

• kellyscause.com
• instagram.com/kellyscause
• talkinghospitality.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Kelly's Cause
• Mental Health First Aid England
• Hinge